Buying a WRX soon
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From: SF Bay Area
Car Info: 12 Impreza Wagon, RIP 91 Honda Civic Wagon :(
Buying a WRX soon
Yeah it's finally time to replace my cow slaying Honda.
Since this will be my first Subie I'm looking for recommendations of independent shops to take the car to for servicing. East Bay would be most convenient.
I've been looking at 2003's and 2004's. Any issues / problems with these model years that I should be aware of?
Since this will be my first Subie I'm looking for recommendations of independent shops to take the car to for servicing. East Bay would be most convenient.
I've been looking at 2003's and 2004's. Any issues / problems with these model years that I should be aware of?
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Originally Posted by RallyWagon
Yeah it's finally time to replace my cow slaying Honda.
Since this will be my first Subie I'm looking for recommendations of independent shops to take the car to for servicing. East Bay would be most convenient.
I've been looking at 2003's and 2004's. Any issues / problems with these model years that I should be aware of?
Since this will be my first Subie I'm looking for recommendations of independent shops to take the car to for servicing. East Bay would be most convenient.
I've been looking at 2003's and 2004's. Any issues / problems with these model years that I should be aware of?
There are no real advantages of getting a 2004 over a 2003 aside from 2 things: the face lift (if you prefer the peanut eye) and the lower milage (assuming the previous owners put on the standard milage per year).
If you don't mind the face change and you can get in on a 2003 WRX (not the STi), then I would go with the bug eye. First, basic bolt ons like a down pipe, up pipe, etc - are easily done and require no engine management (but you'll still want it later for more gains with your parts). Second, the 04/05 WRX have an open loop error with the ECU - which means basic bolt ons will require you to get engine management as the same time you put on BPU (basic performance upgrades). I'm not sure if it's all 04/05 WRX's or if it's just a handful of 04/05's.
Creature comforts in the 02/03 = key ring light added
02/03 vs 04 interior = 04 has less grippy seats but the seat is more uniform, the head rest does not move. 02/03 driver gauges have no silver trim, needles are yellow and backing is green. 04 has red needles and green backing.
02/03 vs 05 interior = 05 got a new interior, see the 06 models for interior change. Center console, hand brake position are moved. Shares same driver gauges as 04 model, similar seats but slightly different trim.
04 vs 05 = 05 got a single exhaust tip like the STi exhaust, but no STi stamping. 04 is the same as 02/03 exhaust, dual tip. 05 has new rims, where the 02/03/04 WRX all have the same rims. 05 has painted side skirts where the 02/03/04 do not.
Hope this helps.
If you don't mind the face change and you can get in on a 2003 WRX (not the STi), then I would go with the bug eye. First, basic bolt ons like a down pipe, up pipe, etc - are easily done and require no engine management (but you'll still want it later for more gains with your parts). Second, the 04/05 WRX have an open loop error with the ECU - which means basic bolt ons will require you to get engine management as the same time you put on BPU (basic performance upgrades). I'm not sure if it's all 04/05 WRX's or if it's just a handful of 04/05's.
Creature comforts in the 02/03 = key ring light added
02/03 vs 04 interior = 04 has less grippy seats but the seat is more uniform, the head rest does not move. 02/03 driver gauges have no silver trim, needles are yellow and backing is green. 04 has red needles and green backing.
02/03 vs 05 interior = 05 got a new interior, see the 06 models for interior change. Center console, hand brake position are moved. Shares same driver gauges as 04 model, similar seats but slightly different trim.
04 vs 05 = 05 got a single exhaust tip like the STi exhaust, but no STi stamping. 04 is the same as 02/03 exhaust, dual tip. 05 has new rims, where the 02/03/04 WRX all have the same rims. 05 has painted side skirts where the 02/03/04 do not.
Hope this helps.
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hi Jane,
pete was telling me over the weekend that you were looking at WRX wagons. i couldn't be happier. no matter what you get i'm sure you'll be happy. Subaru makes great stuff.
-rich
pete was telling me over the weekend that you were looking at WRX wagons. i couldn't be happier. no matter what you get i'm sure you'll be happy. Subaru makes great stuff.
-rich
Originally Posted by RallyWagon
Any issues / problems with these model years that I should be aware of?
On a more serious note, the '04s had shimless buckets. Also the transmission recieved upgrades every year. The '02 trannies constitute the most "blown at stock HP" cases out there. Ideally you should get an '05 at least b/c you get double first gear synchros and wider (hence stronger) gears. Heck, if you went '06 you'd get 2.5 liters....
The '02 and '03 trannies SUCK. (especially if you are coming from Honda, because high performance Honda/Acura trannies are some of the smoothest out there)
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From: SF Bay Area
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Originally Posted by bushido
hi Jane,
pete was telling me over the weekend that you were looking at WRX wagons. i couldn't be happier. no matter what you get i'm sure you'll be happy. Subaru makes great stuff.
-rich
pete was telling me over the weekend that you were looking at WRX wagons. i couldn't be happier. no matter what you get i'm sure you'll be happy. Subaru makes great stuff.
-rich
Yeah, saw Pete at the F&S this evening. He talked about your w/e drive and mentioned something about mis-matched tires and rims
Looking forward to joining you guys on a drive soon - it's been way too long without a car!Jane
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Originally Posted by verc
Yeah. They can't make more than around 360hp w/o major lag, they can't (smoothly) make >~420hp w/o needing a standalone EMS (or an STI ecu swap), and the 2 liter is major suck compared to even the 2.5 w/ regards to lowend torque. That, and the STI/EVO is vastly superior. Other than that, they are fine
On a more serious note, the '04s had shimless buckets. Also the transmission recieved upgrades every year. The '02 trannies constitute the most "blown at stock HP" cases out there. Ideally you should get an '05 at least b/c you get double first gear synchros and wider (hence stronger) gears. Heck, if you went '06 you'd get 2.5 liters....
The '02 and '03 trannies SUCK. (especially if you are coming from Honda, because high performance Honda/Acura trannies are some of the smoothest out there)
On a more serious note, the '04s had shimless buckets. Also the transmission recieved upgrades every year. The '02 trannies constitute the most "blown at stock HP" cases out there. Ideally you should get an '05 at least b/c you get double first gear synchros and wider (hence stronger) gears. Heck, if you went '06 you'd get 2.5 liters....
The '02 and '03 trannies SUCK. (especially if you are coming from Honda, because high performance Honda/Acura trannies are some of the smoothest out there)
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Originally Posted by verc
The '02 and '03 trannies SUCK. (especially if you are coming from Honda, because high performance Honda/Acura trannies are some of the smoothest out there)
The tranny on any model year USDM WRX is the absolute weakspot in the drivetrain, not just the 02-03.